How to Improve Indoor Air Quality (in a Few Simple Steps)

Indoor air quality can be a huge problem when you live in the city. Improving the air we breathe inside our homes is especially important during winter when we tend to cozy up and hide from the cold. And especially difficult to do when there’s no flow of fresh air coming from the outside. So what can you do?

In this article:

• Keep your home clean
• Keep plants outdoors (or at least in another room)
• Invest in an air purifier
• Crack open a few windows
• Conclusion

Keep your home clean

Keeping your home clean is one of the most efficient ways to reduce airborne pathogens indoors. I can’t stress enough how important it is to maintain cleanliness. Otherwise, the act of cleaning can worsen indoor quality.

Regular cleaning is essential. When done right, it’s a net benefit on the quality of indoor air. It can help keep mould, allergens, and asthma triggers at bay. If you suffer from asthma or allergies, let someone else do the cleaning.

On a side note, if you have wall-to-wall carpeting, it’s probably a good idea to consider making the switch to hardwood floors. If you like your carpet and don’t feel like changing it, then we recommend you book professional hot-water extraction at least twice a year.

Keep plants outdoors (or at least in another room)

This one might sound a bit controversial, even counter-intuitive, but plants can be a major trigger for some people. Even though many people consider plants as a way to improve indoor air quality, in actuality – they reduce it most of the time.

Plants can harbour dust, which often makes them a safe haven for dust mites. Because of the moisture they require, your greeneries may be implicated in hiding mould under your very roof.

In case you’re having trouble with allergens indoors, it’s worth considering moving your plants outdoors. Or, of the temperature doesn’t permit such drastic measures – move them to another room where you don’t spend that much time and see if things improve.

Invest in an air purifier

Air purifiers are not a panacea. They won’t solve all your dust and allergen problems on their own but they can be a powerful ally in the fight against stale indoor air.

With the filtration of an air purifier, you reduce the number of harmful particles in your home to a reasonable degree. Combined with the other tips on this list, they will have a great effect on indoor air quality. However, do not think purchasing an air purifier will solve your problems on its own. It won’t. 

Crack open a few windows

Sometimes, the simplest solutions are also the best. Even during the cold months, you can still crack open the windows from time to time to let some fresh air in (as much as city air can be classified as “fresh”).

Don’t want to sit in the cold? No one does – that’s why you should open the windows for a few minutes before you head out. Close them before you leave your home and by the time you’re back, the heating system will have done its job and there will be nary a reminder of the cold.

Conclusion

Indoor air quality may not be a huge concern, especially during the cold months, but that’s when it’s actually the most important. Luckily, you don’t have to do much in order to improve this aspect of your home. With a few simple actions, you can breathe easily.

Disclaimer: Samyx Cleaning is a cleaning company and this is a cleaning blog. None of the advice above should be interpreted as medical advice. If you have any medical problems, make an appointment with your general physician or another health specialist.

Author: Atanas Dzhingarov

Hi, I’m Atanas - brand consultant and writer. I’m helping Samyx Cleaning create the best cleaning company blog on the Internet. Join us on our journey and learn how to live a cleaner, healthier, happier life in the process.